Reading view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.

The School District of Philadelphia (PA) Turns to Transfinder for Routing

By: STN

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. and PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – After a competitive review process, Transfinder Corporation is pleased to announce The School District of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania has selected Transfinder’s award-winning routing solution Routefinder PLUS to create the safest and most efficient routes for its students.

The School District of Philadelphia is the eighth largest school district in the United States. The district has a student enrollment of 198,405 who attend 330 different schools. As the district was looking for an integrated all-in-one technology platform that would avoid the need for multiple vendors and systems and provide a single source of information, Transfinder rose to the top of the list.

“The School District of Philadelphia is looking forward to this partnership with Transfinder,” said Thomas Marcucci, executive director of transportation at The School District of Philadelphia.

Marcucci outlined the goals the district has of its partnership with Transfinder.

“Our goal is to provide the safest, most reliable, most efficient and the best transportation possible for our stakeholders —students, parents, guardians and the entire school community,” he said. “Transfinder’s solutions and features will help us achieve that goal. We know that success comes through collaboration, and we are excited to work together with Transfinder in a true partnership to better serve our community.”

Transfinder President and CEO Antonio Civitella welcomed The School District of Philadelphia to the Transfinder family.

“The Transfinder team has worked closely with the district to meet and exceed its objectives,” Civitella said. “We take The School District of Philadelphia’s trust—or the trust of any district—very seriously. Philadelphia is choosing Transfinder at an ideal time, when our solutions are more innovative and user-friendly than ever. With our award-winning AI tool, Atlas, and industry-leading support, the City of Brotherly Love is in good hands with Transfinder.”

Transfinder’s AI assistant, Atlas, was just voted the Best Software/AI Solution by industry leaders.

With more than 2,500 school districts as clients in North America, Transfinder’s routing solutions are the industry leader, with one in three students riding buses utilizing Transfinder technology.

About Transfinder
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Schenectady, New York, Transfinder is a national leader in intelligent transportation systems, providing transportation management systems and services to school districts, bus contractors, police departments and adult care facilities. Transfinder, has been on Inc. magazine’s “fastest-growing company” list for 14 years. The software and hardware company has received numerous awards, including Best Software, Best Hardware, Best Green Technology and Best Safety Technology. In addition, Transfinder has repeatedly won Best Places to Work, Top Workplace and Best Companies to Work for accolades. Transfinder develops and supports routing and scheduling solutions for optimal transportation logistics. Transfinder also created the award-winning Patrolfinder policing technology to enhance law enforcement. For more information, visit www.transfinder.com.

The post The School District of Philadelphia (PA) Turns to Transfinder for Routing appeared first on School Transportation News.

Zum Celebrates New Philadelphia Operations Site and Hosts Driver Hiring Event

By: STN

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- Zūm, a leader in modern student mobility, today announced it will celebrate the opening of its new Philadelphia operations center with a driver and family celebration and hiring event on Thursday, August 6, marking the next milestone in Zum’s continued investment in local drivers and its partnership with the School District of Philadelphia.

The event is designed for current and prospective school bus drivers, especially those with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and their families. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Zum’s local leadership team, hear from experienced drivers about their careers, tour the new school bus yard, participate in onsite interviews, and learn more about joining the Zum team. Families will enjoy free food, Kona Ice, bounce houses, face painting, and raffle prizes throughout the day.

The celebration marks the opening of Zum’s new Philadelphia operations center, a modern home base designed to support drivers with state-of-the-art facilities, training, and technology as the company prepares for the 2026–27 school year. It also represents the next chapter of Zūm’s previously announced investment in Philadelphia.

“When we announced our investment in Philadelphia, we made a commitment to local drivers, their families, and the School District of Philadelphia that we were here for the long term,” said Missy Lash, General Manager, Philadelphia at Zum. “Thursday’s celebration is about delivering on that promise. We are excited to welcome current and prospective drivers and their families to our new home, celebrate the people who make student mobility possible every day, and continue building a world-class team that will serve Philadelphia students for years to come.”

The new operations center reflects Zum’s driver-first approach to student mobility. Drivers benefit from modern facilities, digital tools, real-time communication, and technology that simplifies daily operations, reducing administrative burden and allowing them to focus on what matters most: serving students safely and reliably.

Every school day, thousands of Philadelphia students depend on reliable student mobility to access education. By combining technology, operational excellence, and investments in people, Zum is helping create a more reliable experience for students, families, school districts, and the drivers who serve them.

“Our drivers are the heart of everything we do,” said Liz Sanchez, Executive Vice President of Student Mobility at Zum. “They are the first and last face many students see each school day, providing families with peace of mind and making access to education possible. As we grow in Philadelphia, we are investing in our drivers because they are the foundation of a stronger student mobility system.”

The driver and family celebration also serves as a hiring event for school bus drivers and monitors interested in joining the Zum team. Current drivers will share their experiences working at Zūm and discuss the company’s culture, growth opportunities, and technology-enabled approach to student mobility. Hiring managers will be available throughout the event to assist prospective employees with applications, interviews, and offer letters.

Zum now serves more than 6,500 schools across 18 states, helping school districts improve reliability, strengthen communication with families, and transform one of the nation’s largest public mobility systems through its AI-powered Connected Mobility Experience (CMX) platform.

Event Details

Zum Philadelphia Driver & Family Celebration and Hiring Event

Thursday, August 6, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Zum Philadelphia Operations Center
2502 Wheatsheaf Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19137

Current and prospective school bus drivers—especially those with a CDL—are encouraged to attend. Families are welcome.

Event Highlights

Grand opening of Zūm’s new Philadelphia operations center

Inside tours of the state of the art Zum buses

Meet the Zūm Philadelphia leadership team

Hear from veteran Zūm drivers about their experience, career growth, and what makes Zūm different

School bus driver and monitor hiring event with onsite interviews and applications

Free food and Kona Ice

Bounce houses and face painting for children

Raffle prizes for drivers and their families throughout the day

About Zum
Zum is modernizing mass mobility with its Connected Mobility Experience (CMX) that connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the student mobility market, Zum is addressing a daily source of anxiety and disruption by providing a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Learn more at www.ridezum.com. Today, more than 6,500 schools in 18 states have relied on the Zum CMX system.

The post Zum Celebrates New Philadelphia Operations Site and Hosts Driver Hiring Event appeared first on School Transportation News.

Pennsylvania School Bus Aide Charged with Indecent Assault of Student

A school bus aide in Pennsylvania has been arrested and accused of repeatedly touching a 14-year-old student with special needs while she was being transported to a summer education program.

According to a statement by the Bensalem Township Police Department, Ali Khan, 62, was charged with third-degree felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of minors, as well as two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.

Police said the investigation began July 30 after the parents of a Bensalem High School student contacted authorities about an incident involving their daughter and Khan earlier that day.

Investigators allege that Khan allegedly touched the student inappropriately on numerous occasions July 29 and 30 while the school bus was traveling to Bensalem High School’s extended school year program. Such programs generally provide educational services during school breaks to eligible students.

Police obtained surveillance footage from inside the school bus as part of the investigation. According to the department’s statement, the video showed Khan directing the student to sit in a particular seat.

Once the student was seated, Khan allegedly draped his body across her while securing her seat belt and touched her inappropriately for an extended period, police said. Investigators alleged that he continued rubbing the student’s leg and inner thigh after fastening the seat belt.

The footage reportedly showed the student trying to close her legs and place her hands in her lap. Police alleged Khan pulled her legs apart and continued touching her despite those efforts.

Khan was also holding a cellphone in his other hand and appeared to record videos and take photographs of the student during the encounter, investigators said. The bus surveillance footage also allegedly showed Khan place a hand inside his pants and touch himself.

Police did not disclose whether other students or adults were on board the bus during the alleged incidents. The department also did not say whether any images or recordings were recovered from Khan’s cellphone.

Khan was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Gary Gambardella, who set bail at 10 percent of $500,000. Khan was then remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility.

In an Aug. 3 statement, Bensalem Township School District Interim Superintendent Victoria Velazquez identified Khan as a district support staff employee. She said district officials received the allegations July 30 and immediately activated established incident-response procedures and began an administrative investigation.

Khan was removed from service and the district immediately after officials learned of the allegations, pending the outcomes of the criminal and administrative investigations, according to the statement.

Velazquez said the district cannot comment on the specific allegations or discuss personnel matters because the criminal investigation remains active. The district is cooperating with Bensalem police and will continue its administrative review in accordance with applicable law, board policy and district procedures.

“The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority,” Velazquez said. “Whenever concerns involving student safety are brought to our attention, we act immediately to protect students, support families, and cooperate fully with law enforcement.”

Police praised the student for reporting the alleged conduct and thanked the district for assisting with the investigation.


Related: Illinois School Bus Driver Arrested Following Child Sexual Assault Allegation
Related: Former School Bus Driver Sentenced to 16 Years for Sexual Assault
Related: Former Georgia School Bus Monitor Charged After Alleged Student Assault
Related: Sexual Assault on School Transportation Vehicles: A Call for Action

The post Pennsylvania School Bus Aide Charged with Indecent Assault of Student appeared first on School Transportation News.

Catalytic Converter Thefts Target Pennsylvania School Transportation Vehicles

Pennsylvania State Police are investigating two separate incidents involving the theft or attempted theft of catalytic converters from school transportation vehicles in Franklin County, with charges pending against one suspect in one of the cases, reported Tri-State News.

Police said via the article that Shawn Jordan, 38, of Hagerstown, Maryland, is expected to face charges after investigators identified him as one of the suspects in an attempted catalytic converter theft at the Chambersburg Area School District transportation facility on Cider Press Road in Guilford Township.

According to the news report, the incident occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. June 9. Investigators allege Jordan attempted to steal catalytic converters from a white 2025 Ford van and a white 2018 Ford van owned by the school district. The transportation hub is located near Falling Spring Elementary School.

State police reportedly said charges will be filed through Magisterial District Judge 39-3-07. Court records had not yet reflected formal charges as of the latest update. The investigation is being conducted under the Pennsylvania State Police Department.

In a separate case, PSP is reportedly investigating the theft of catalytic converters from two vehicles owned by DL Friese Transportation in Hamilton Township. Troopers were notified shortly before 7 a.m. May 11 that catalytic converters had been stolen from a school bus and a box truck parked at the company’s lot on Lincoln Way West near Chambersburg. The theft resulted in an estimated loss of about $1,600.

No arrests have been made in that case, which remains under investigation. State police are asking anyone with information about the theft to contact the PSP Chambersburg station.

Catalytic converter thefts have become a recurring concern for vehicle owners. School districts and school bus contractors have increasingly been targeted in recent years due to the number of vehicles typically stored together in fleet yards.

Written with the assistance of AI.


Related: 24 Catalytic Converters Stolen from Texas School Buses
Related: Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing a School Bus in New Mexico
Related: Stolen School Bus Crashed by Michigan Man Out on Bond
Related: Fuel Theft Attempt Ends in Fire, Destroying Grace Academy Bus in Washington

The post Catalytic Converter Thefts Target Pennsylvania School Transportation Vehicles appeared first on School Transportation News.

How Districts and Contractors Found Efficiency—with Data, Discipline and the Right Tools

By: STN

Across the country, transportation leaders are being asked to solve the same problem in different forms: rising costs, ongoing driver shortages, and communities that expect reliable service without disruption. For many districts and bus contractors, the turning point came not from adding more resources—but from using Transfinder solutions more intentionally, guided by local best practices.

In one district, success started with people, not software. As Carissa Johnson, administrative services analyst at East Stroudsburg School District in Pennsylvania, explained, “Stopfinder will only be successful if the drivers are accurately using Wayfinder. Wayfinder is only successful if our dispatchers are properly routing.” Her team recognized early that tools had to work together—and that buy in across roles mattered as much as the technology itself.

Rather than rushing parent facing tools into production, the district focused first on drivers. “It took a lot first, just getting them to use the technology,” Johnson said. Weekly navigation audit reports helped identify who needed additional training and why. Over time, that discipline paid off. “Now that they see the impact that it has on Stopfinder with parents using it, we’re almost there.”

For others, efficiency gains came from pairing Transfinder tools with operational frameworks. In Springfield Public Schools in Oregon, operations and transportation manager Michael Schlosser described how lean thinking reshaped their approach. “My operating budget is about $7.9 million, and we’ve cut $1.3 million out of our budget in one year.” He traced those savings back to better routing practices and real ridership data. “So instead of having 4,500 kids assigned and routes out there that were running 15 to 20 kids on them, we eliminated 14 routes.”

That shift required changing long standing habits. “Going way back when, before we started Wayfinder, we just used to say all these kids are eligible for transportation,” Schlosser said. Requiring families to register clarified actual demand and reduced wasted capacity. Empty seats disappeared, and fewer buses were needed to move the same number of students.

Veteran transportation leader and consultant Pete Japikse sees this pattern repeatedly. “The solution is to keep transporting just as many kiddos as need a ride, but do it on fewer buses,” said Japikse of The Ennis Briton Consulting Group. For Japikse, the school bus must be treated as mass transit, not a personal vehicle. “And when you run fewer buses, you spend less money.”

Key Takeaways

  • Align people, policy, and technology—tools work best when roles are connected
  • Route to actual ridership, not eligibility assumptions
  • Review and refine routes regularly, not only when problems arise
  • Use data to build confidence with boards, parents, and drivers
  • Small operational changes can unlock large, sustainable savings

Transfinder’s strength, he noted, lies in turning that philosophy into action. “Use the tools that Transfinder has to help separate actual riders from ghost riders, which allows you to do the data management that then you match with your route planning so that you can run an efficient operation.”

Bus contractors echoed the same theme from a different vantage point. Michael Howes, assistant operations director at Healey Bus, emphasized breaking out of silos that quietly drive inefficiency. “What I see with districts is they kind of get stuck in these silos,” he said, pointing to ways to think out of the box and collaborate with highway departments and police to reduce stop counts, improve safety, and tighten routes. “Your carbon impact is less, your speed is greater and the more efficiency you can have,”

Policy alignment also matters. Amy Rosa, transportation director at Wa-Nee Community Schools in Indiana, described how her district found gains by standardizing expectations. “The foundation of a lot of this is policy,” she said, noting that tightening alternative site rules and improving preregistration data made routes more predictable. “The pre routing data is critical. Getting that information from them… you can’t do it without knowing where you’re picking up kids.”

Rick Sanderson, transportation department foreman at Iron County School District in Utah, also highlighted the value of having information handy in Servicefinder, noting he’s used Servicefinder for at least 12 years. The district has 100 buses and the district serves more than 9,000 students.

“Parts-wise, I use the dashboard and created thematics so I can see when I’m out of parts, the cost for it,” he said. He puts his required three bids for parts in the grid, “so I can always refer back to it as far as cost goes,” Sanderson said.

Across these stories, the common thread is not a single feature or report—but intentional use. With consistent data, clear policies, and strong implementation practices, Transfinder solutions helped districts and contractors move from reactive operations to confident, efficient systems.

Efficiency, it turns out, is built together.

“The bottom line is the safety of the kids,” Sanderson said. “There’s a lot more to Transfinder than, I think, I know. There’s always different avenues, different perspectives you can take of it, with the data and making choices and judgments off of those.”

To learn more about Transfinder’s solutions and how it can help your district become more efficient, visit transfinder.com/solutions, email solutions@transfinder.com or call 800-373-3609.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post How Districts and Contractors Found Efficiency—with Data, Discipline and the Right Tools appeared first on School Transportation News.

Illegal School Bus Passing on Decline in Pennsylvania City, Says Report

Pittsburgh Public Schools reported an 8-percent, year-over-year decline in drivers illegally passing stopped school buses, according to the district’s 2025-2026 school bus safety report card released this week, reported ABC 4

According to the article, the report attributes the improvement to an ongoing partnership with BusPatrol, which began in 2023 and equipped the district’s fleet with AI-powered stop-arm enforcement technology designed to identify motorists who illegally pass school buses while students are boarding or exiting.

School officials reportedly said the program is intended to improve student safety by changing driver behavior rather than simply issuing citations. “The purpose of the bus patrol program is not to issue citations; the purpose is to change behavior,” said Michael McNamara, chief operations officer for Pittsburgh Public Schools via the article. “Every violation captured represents a moment where a child could be at risk.”

Between August 2025 and June, the district’s 243 school buses reportedly recorded 10,328 stop-arm violations, averaging 0.39 violations per bus each day. Officials said repeat offenders accounted for just 5.9 percent of the violations.

Officer Toi Kenny of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Police Department said motorists who ignore stopped school buses put children in immediate danger. “When a driver passes a stopped school bus, they are putting children at risk in matters of seconds,” Kenny told local news reporters. “Students may be crossing the street, stepping off the bus, or moving into a driver’s blind spot, and it only takes one poor decision for a life-changing tragedy.”

The report also identified patterns in the violations. Forty-two percent of illegal passings reportedly occurred on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while 43 percent took place during morning bus routes and 57 percent during afternoon routes.

Rick Birt, vice president of government operations and safety at BusPatrol, said via the article that education and enforcement remain key to reducing violations. “They make the selfish choice to put our kids at risk, and our children deserve better,” Birt said. “At BusPatrol, we have one mission, to empower communities through a combination of education and enforcement.”

Pennsylvania drivers cited through the school bus safety camera program face a minimum $300 fine for illegally passing a stopped school bus.


Related: Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology
Related: Are Extended Stop Arms Part of Solution to Illegal School Bus Passing?
Related: (STN Podcast E311) Leadership & Lawbreakers: Top STN EXPO West Picks, Illegal Passing Deep Dive
Related: STN EXPO East to Feature Illegal Passing Trends, Safety Recommendations

The post Illegal School Bus Passing on Decline in Pennsylvania City, Says Report appeared first on School Transportation News.

Fatal Shooting at Pennsylvania School Bus Drop-Off Leads to Arrest

A 16-year-old Harrisburg teen has been charged with criminal homicide after the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old student moments after stepping off a school bus.

Jeremiah Moran, 16, is charged with first-degree murder, firearms not to be carried without a license, and possession of a firearm by a minor in connection with the death of a 17-year-old.

Police said the fatal shooting occurred May 29 near an intersection shortly after students were dismissed from school and days before the end of the school year. The 17-year-old had just exited a school bus when investigators say Moran approached and opened fire. The victim was transported to a local hospital for emergency care but died due to his injuries.

Video Shows Fatal Shooting

Investigators reportedly obtained video evidence allegedly showing Moran firing the weapon to shoot the victim, identified as Camar Cordero by local reports. Police said via local news that Moran later admitted to officers that he shot Cordero.

“There still is some of the puzzle that needs to be put together. But at this point in time, I think we have a pretty good understanding of what transpired and as to why it transpired as well,” Harrisburg Police Capt. Kyle Gautsch told local news reporters.

Investigators have not publicly released a motive for the fatal shooting.

However, the shooting prompted a large police response as officers secured the scene and collected evidence. Authorities noted that a school bus visible at the scene was not the bus Cordero had been riding but another bus traveling behind it.

Sixth Street remained closed for several hours while detectives processed evidence. Crime scene tape surrounded a large section of the roadway, where investigators marked multiple pieces of evidence. Witnesses reported seeing clothing and numerous evidence markers within the secured area. The road reopened around 6:15 p.m.

Neighbors who rushed to assist the victim described a chaotic scene in the moments after gunfire erupted. Judith Weaver, who helped organize emergency aid before first responders arrived, said residents immediately worked to help the wounded teen.

“I knew the bus had just let out. So, I went running down there,” Weaver told local news reporters. “Everyone was just so worked up. It was all chaos.”

Weaver said bystanders used available fabric to apply pressure to Cordero’s wounds while waiting for emergency personnel. She credited several community members, including a young girl who assisted efforts to keep the victim conscious.

Lt. Brandon Braughler of the Harrisburg Police Bureau praised residents who responded and cooperated with investigators. “The community came out,” Braughler said. “They’ve been very cooperative helping establish a very large crime scene.”

The fatal shooting has renewed concerns about youth violence in the city. Gautsch urged parents to remain actively involved in their children’s lives and be aware of potential warning signs.

“Make sure you know what’s going on with your children, what’s going on in their heads, and what’s in your lives and their lives,” Gautsch said.

The Harrisburg School District also responded to the tragedy. Superintendent Benjamin Henry said he hopes to hold a memorial in the coming days for Cordero and another student who died last week after being struck by a vehicle.

“As a father and an educator, I refuse to normalize this tragic shooting,” Henry said in a statement, calling on residents, community leaders and elected officials to work together to address violence affecting young people.

Police continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.


Related: Teen Girl Shot Near Oregon Bus Stop, Suspect Arrested
Related: Texas Student Arrested Following Alleged Sexual Assault on School Bus
Related: Teen Arrested After Allegedly Hitting Student Waiting for School Bus in New York
Related: Teen Charged in Pennsylvania School Bus Shooting, 3 Others Wanted

The post Fatal Shooting at Pennsylvania School Bus Drop-Off Leads to Arrest appeared first on School Transportation News.

As climate focus shifts to states, East Coast partnership offers model for multi-state collaboration

A power line with smokestacks in the background against a bluish-grey sky.

A trailblazing regional greenhouse gas partnership on the East Coast is considering possible changes or expansion that would allow it to keep building on its success — and the stakes grew higher last month with the reelection of Donald Trump.

The 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, established in 2005, is the country’s first regional cap-and-invest system for reducing carbon emissions from power generation. Since 2021, administrators have been conducting a program review, analyzing its performance since the last review in 2017 and weighing potential adjustments to make sure it continues to deliver benefits to member states.

The role of such programs is more crucial as Trump’s pledges to roll back federal climate action leaves it up to cities, states, and the private sector to maintain the country’s momentum on clean energy over the next four years. In RGGI, as the regional initiative is known, states have a potential model for scaling their impact through collaboration. 

“RGGI has not only been an effective climate policy, it’s been an extraordinary example of how states can work together on common goals,” said Daniel Sosland, president of climate and energy nonprofit Acadia Center. “It is a major vehicle for climate policy now in the states, more than it might have seemed before the election.” 

How RGGI works

RGGI sets a cap for total power plant carbon emissions among member states. Individual generators must then buy allowances from the state, up to the total cap, for each ton of carbon dioxide they produce in a year. The cap lowers over time, forcing power plants to either reduce emissions or pay more to buy allowances from a shrinking pool.

States then reinvest the proceeds from these auctions into programs that further reduce emissions and help energy customers, including energy efficiency initiatives, direct bill assistance, and renewable energy projects. Since 2008, RGGI has generated $8.3 billion for participating states, and carbon dioxide emissions from power generation in the nine states that have consistently participated fell by about half between 2008 and 2021, a considerably faster rate than the rest of the country. 

“It has really thrived and been really effective across multiple administrations,” said Jackson Morris, state power sector director with the Natural Resources Defense Council. “RGGI is a winning model. It’s not theoretical — we’ve got numbers.”

Currently, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont are part of the program. Virginia joined RGGI in 2021, but in 2023 Gov. Glenn Youngkin repealed the state’s participation, a move immediately challenged in court; a judge ruled last month that the governor lacked the authority to withdraw the state from initiative, though a spokesman for the governor has declared the state’s intention to appeal. 

There is widespread agreement that RGGI will endure despite likely federal hostility to climate measures. There was no attempt to take direct action against it during Trump’s first term, nor has there been any concerted industry opposition, said Conservation Law Foundation president Bradley Campbell, who was involved in the founding of RGGI when he was commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Supporters also note that the program has historically had broad bipartisan support: Participating states have been led through the years by both Republican and Democratic governors and legislatures. 

Politics has had some influence over the years, though only at the margins. New Jersey, a founding member of RGGI, left in 2011 when Chris Christie was governor, but returned in 2020 following an executive order from his successor. Pennsylvania joined in 2022 through an executive order from the governor, but its participation is now being challenged in court. 

Still, RGGI’s foundations are solid and will remain so, experts said. 

“The basic infrastructure has weathered the political winds over the decades,” Campbell said.

Looking forward

Nonetheless, RGGI will need to make some carefully thought-out program design decisions during its current review to make an impact in the face of falling federal support for decarbonization. 

One question under consideration is whether to maintain the existing trajectory for the overall emissions cap for the program — a reduction of 30% between 2020 and 2030, then holding steady thereafter — or to continue lowering the limit after 2030. 

The RGGI states are also contemplating a possible change to the compliance schedule that would require power generators to acquire allowances worth 100% of their carbon emissions each year, and certify compliance annually. The current system calls for certification every three years, and only mandates allowances equivalent to half of carbon emissions for the first two years of each period.

The program is looking for ways to appeal to potential new participant states that have less aggressive decarbonization goals than current member states without watering down the program’s overall impact on decarbonization, said Acadia Center policy analyst Paola Tamayo. Acadia suggested possible program mechanisms such as giving proportionately more allowances to states with more stringent emissions targets to incentivize tighter limits.

“At this point it is critical for states to maintain a high level of ambition when it comes to programs like RGGI,” Tamayo said. “There are different mechanisms that they can implement to accommodate other states.”

The program review is expected to yield a model rule some time over the winter, though updates may be made into the spring as the RGGI states receive and consider feedback on how to accommodate potential new participants.  

States will also need to maintain and strengthen their own climate policies to magnify the impact of RGGI, Campbell said. He pointed to Massachusetts, where Gov. Maura Healey needs to show “bolder leadership,” he said, and Maine and Vermont, where the Conservation Law Foundation has filed lawsuits in an attempt to compel the states to meet their own carbon reduction deadlines. 

“It’s especially important that the states that have strong emissions reduction mandates speed up the implementation of their climate laws,” he said. “State leadership on these issues is going to be more important than ever.”

As climate focus shifts to states, East Coast partnership offers model for multi-state collaboration is an article from Energy News Network, a nonprofit news service covering the clean energy transition. If you would like to support us please make a donation.

❌